Ghostnote - Sagrantino - San Benito County, CA - 2023

@ghostnotewines

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Harvested October. 20th 2023 from Wheeler Vineyard, a small parcel a part of the greater Siletto Family Vineyard. Organically farmed, own rooted, 100% Sagrantino, de-stemmed and macerated on skins for four weeks. Native primary and secondary fermentation, Elevage 27 months in neutral Bordeaux barrels. Racked four times before bottling. Naturally clarified, bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2023 Sagrantino is a version of the variety that threads the needle between restraint and staying true to the varietals typical brooding character. This is one of the latest picks for this site which reflects the unusually long, cool season and extended hang time that defined the 2023 vintage. Creme de Cassis, Graphite, Blue Fruits, Lavender, Floral with a richly textured palate and elegant length and finish. Served best at 62-64F. Alcohol: 13.6% Alc./Vol Residual Sugar: 0.0 g/L pH: 3.95 Total Acidity: 5.8 g/L Malic Acid: 0.1 g/L Volatile Acidity: 0.65 g/L

Notes on the Producer

Ghostnote Wines is Brad Friedman’s small, independent project: naturally made, quietly serious wines with purpose, craft, and a clear point of view.

Grapes & Style

Sagrantino

Sagrantino is a deeply colored, intensely tannic red grape from Umbria, most famously around Montefalco. It’s one of Italy’s most structurally powerful native grapes, capable of long-lived wines when its tannins are managed with patience and care.

In the vineyard, Sagrantino builds high phenolics and thick skins, which means extraction and aging choices matter enormously. Traditionally it was also used for sweet passito wines, but its modern dry versions can be dark, brooding, and firmly built.

In the glass, Sagrantino often shows blackberry, black cherry, plum, dried herbs, cocoa, leather, licorice, and earthy spice. The best examples have real gravity and grip, but enough fruit and freshness to make the structure feel purposeful rather than punishing.